In a Kenyan sports bar, several football fans cheered South Africa's opponents in their latest match at the World Cup -- reflecting a wave of anger at the country's recent xenophobic violence.
Arsenal will kick off their Premier League title defence against promoted Coventry on August 21.
Humanoid robots able to perform tasks from grape harvesting to welcoming visitors were front and centre at France's Vivatech trade fair this week, with European firms looking to fill niches beyond what dominant Chinese giants can offer.
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Sports
A French appeals court on Friday confirmed that Moroccan football star Achraf Hakimi will face trial for the alleged rape of a woman in 2023, which the Paris Saint-Germain defender denies.
June 19, 2026
RECENT NEWS
Mexico became the first team to reach the knockout round of the World Cup on Thursday after a 1-0 victory over South Korea while Canada edged closer to the last 32 after thrashing Qatar.
June 19, 2026
RECENT NEWS
Tech firms powered Seoul's Kospi index to another record on Friday, while oil prices extended losses after traffic began to resume in the Strait of Hormuz under the US-Iran agreement.
June 19, 2026
Co-hosts Mexico became the first team to reach the knockout rounds of the World Cup with a 1-0 win over South Korea at a delirious Guadalajara Stadium on Thursday.
June 19, 2026
Veteran UK Labour politician Andy Burnham emphatically won a crunch by-election on Friday, securing a parliamentary seat and clearing the way for a widely expected leadership challenge against beleaguered Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
June 19, 2026
Sports
Top ranked South Africa launch their 2026 season against the Barbarians in Gqeberha on Saturday with a warning from head coach Rassie Erasmus ahead of a 14-match schedule.
June 19, 2026
RECENT NEWS
Roberto 'Pico' Lopes might have been whiling away his time as a mortgage advisor in Ireland instead of preparing to face Uruguay in the World Cup on Sunday had Shamrock Rovers not come calling.
About 100 guerrillas laid down their weapons Thursday in a jungle area of southern Colombia under a deal with leftist President Gustavo Petro, who has sought peace with armed rebels, AFP journalists witnessed.
Waikato Chiefs captain Tupou Vaa'i said Friday the Super Rugby final against the Wellington Hurricanes on Saturday is "the game that everyone wanted to see".
Merlin meets the journalists early in the afternoon after a busy morning at Mexico's biggest TV station. His agenda is jam-packed, going late into the night so he can join thousands of admirers at the World Cup "Fan Fest" in Mexico City.
June 19, 2026
Politics
US Vice President JD Vance postponed a trip to Switzerland for talks that were originally slated for Friday to discuss next steps with the US-Iran agreement on ending the war in the Middle East, according to the White House.
June 19, 2026
RECENT NEWS
Two years after leaving the United States following a series of unsuccessful MLS tryouts, Yan Diomande is shining at the World Cup for Ivory Coast -- and still grieving a family tragedy.
Veteran prop James Slipper was named in coach Joe Schmidt's 37-strong Australia squad for the opening three Tests of the Nations Championship on Friday, with a trio of potential debutants also included.
Socceroos coach Tony Popovic said victory over the United States on Friday would earn his side "respect," in the wake of disparaging comments by US pundits about the Australian side that have triggered a long-brewing row.
New Zealand's World Cup social media sensation Tim Payne has capitalised on his newfound fame, with the defender announcing on Friday that he has signed for Paraguayan powerhouse Club Olimpia.
June 19, 2026
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